By: Staff Writer
March 20, 2026
The Caribbean has the potential to become a global model for resilience due to its potential to exploit its talented population.
Daniel Best, president of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), said at the official launch of the 56th Annual Meeting of CDB’s Board of Governors press conference, that the region’s unique strengths must be highlighted in the face of all of the other negativity.
He said: “For many years, the global narrative about the Caribbean has focused on our vulnerabilities, small economies exposure to climate shocks, unlimited fiscal space. Those realities are, in fact, real, and they shape the development challenges our countries confront everyday. But they are not the whole story, because the world itself is changing in ways that increasingly highlight the Caribbean’s unique strengths as the global economy transitions toward renewable energy, sustainable tourism, digital Services and resilient infrastructure, characteristics that once appeared to be constraints, are increasingly becoming sources of opportunity.
“And what do I mean by that? We are a region rich in renewable energy potential. We sit at the crossroads along some of the world’s most important trade routes. We have a young and talented population connected to diaspora networks that span every major economy, and we are a region that has learned, often through necessity, how to adapt, innovate and rebuild in the face of disruption.
“In other words, we in the Caribbean have the potential to become a global model for resilience, but potential alone does not determine the future. What matters most are the decisions we make to unlock it, and that is precisely why this moment matters.”
Best also said: “In just a few weeks, leaders from across our region and beyond will gather here in beautiful Nassau for the 56th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Development Bank under the theme forging the Caribbean’s future, strategic solutions for uncertain times.
“Rising oil prices driven by geopolitical tensions immediately affect electricity cost, transportation and the price of food across our economies, global shocks can quickly translate into household realities, and that is why I have described the years ahead as a decisive decade for our region, and exactly why the upcoming annual meeting matters.
“It provides a strategic moment for the Caribbean, an opportunity for our leaders, governments, development institutions, private sector, youth and institutional partners and international partners to come together to identify practical solutions that can help the region navigate uncertainty while unlocking the opportunities that lie ahead.
“The agenda we have designed for this meeting reflects that purpose. Every session, round table and Knowledge Forum has been intentionally structured to focus on actionable ideas that governments, private sector partners and development institutions can implement.
“Our goal is simply to translate uncertainty into action that benefits future generations for us meeting. This moment requires a clear vision and institutional resolve.
“Earlier this year, our Board approved the bank strategic plan for 2026 to 2035 a transformational road map designed to position the institution to support the Caribbean through the decade ahead.
“At the heart of this strategy are three priorities that will shape the region’s future. First, strengthening Social resilience, ensuring that our people are better prepared to withstand any kind of shock. Second, accelerating sustainable and inclusive economic resilience, supporting investments that expand opportunities and create jobs. And third, strengthening environmental resilience, building our capacity to thrive while protecting our people, economies and ecosystems.”